FUNA V.

VILLAR
670 SCRA 579 (2012)
Constitutional Safeguards to Ensure Independence of Commissions
Doctrine: Article IX-D, Sec. 1(2) does not prohibit a promotional appointment from commissioner to
chairman as long as:
a The Commissioner has not served the full term of 7 years; and
b The appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term of the
predecessor. [Sec. 1(2), Article IX-D]
c The promotional appointment must conform to the rotational plan or the staggering of terms in the
commission membership.
Nature: Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition under Rule 65
FACTS:
President Arroyo appointed Guillermo N. Carague as Chairman of the Commission on Audit (COA) for
a term of 7 years. Caragues term of office started on February 2, 2001 to end on February 2, 2008.
On February 7, 2004, President Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Reynaldo A. Villar as the third member
of the COA for a term of 7 years starting February 2, 2004 until February 2, 2011.
Following the retirement of Carague on February 2, 2008 and during the fourth year of Villar as COA
Commissioner, Villar was designated as Acting Chairman of COA from February 4, 2008 to April 14,
2008. Subsequently, on April 18, 2008, Villar was nominated and appointed as Chairman of the COA.
COA confirmed his appointment. He was to serve as Chairman of COA, as expressly indicated in the
appointment papers, until the expiration of the original term of his office as COA Commissioner or on
February 2, 2011.

Petitioner
Dennis Funa
He challenges the constitutionality of the
appointment of Reynaldo A. Villar as Chairman of
the Commission on Audit and accordingly prays
that
a
judgment
issue
declaring
the
unconstitutionality of the appointment.

Respondent
Reynaldo Villar
He insists that his appointment as COA Chairman
accorded him a fresh term of seven (7) years which
is yet to lapse.
He argues that his term of office, as Chairman of
COA, is up to February 2, 2015, or 7 years
reckoned from February 2, 2008 when he was
appointed to that position.
Before the Court could resolve this petition, Villar,
via a letter date Feb. 22, 2011 addressed to Pres.
Aquino III, signified his intention to step down from
office upon the appointment of his replacement.
True to his word, Villar vacated his position when
Pres. Aquino III named Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan COA
Chairman.
The Court, consequently, considered the instant
case as falling within the requirements for review of
a moot and academic case, as stated in David v.
Macapagal-Arroyo.
However, to Villar, all the requisites have not been
met, it being alleged in particular that petitioner,
suing as a taxpayer and citizen, lacks the
necessary standing to challenge his appointment.

Issue: Whether or not Villar's appointment as COA Chairman, while sitting in that body and after having
served for four (4) years of his seven (7) year term as COA commissioner, is valid in light of the term
limitations imposed under, and the circumscribing concepts tucked in, Sec. 1 (2), Art. IX(D) of the
Constitution and if valid, for how long can he serve?
Ruling:
NO, it is not valid. The Court enunciated the following rules with regard Sec. 1 (2), Art. IX-D of the
Constitution:
1) The appointment of members of any of the three constitutional commissions, after the expiration
of the uneven terms of office of the first set of commissioners, shall always be for a fixed term of
seven (7) years; an appointment for a lesser period is void and unconstitutional. The appointing
authority cannot validly shorten the full term of seven (7) years in case of the expiration of the
term as this will result in the distortion of the rotational system prescribed by the Constitution.
2) Appointments to vacancies resulting from certain causes (death, resignation, disability or
impeachment) shall only be for the unexpired portion of the term of the predecessor, but such
appointments cannot be less than the unexpired portion as this will likewise disrupt the staggering
of terms laid down under Sec. 1(2), Art. IX(D).
3) Members of the Commission, e.g. COA, COMELEC or CSC, who were appointed for a full term of
seven years and who served the entire period, are barred from reappointment to any position in
the Commission. Corollarily, the first appointees in the Commission under the Constitution are
also covered by the prohibition against reappointment.
4) A commissioner who resigns after serving in the Commission for less than seven years is eligible
for an appointment to the position of Chairman for the unexpired portion of the term of the
departing chairman. Such appointment is not covered by the ban on reappointment, provided that
the aggregate period of the length of service as commissioner and the unexpired period of the
term of the predecessor will not exceed seven (7) years and provided further that the vacancy in
the position of Chairman resulted from death, resignation, disability or removal by impeachment.
The Court clarifies that reappointment found in Sec. 1(2), Art. IX(D) means a movement to one
and the same office (Commissioner to Commissioner or Chairman to Chairman). On the other
hand, an appointment involving a movement to a different position or office (Commissioner to
Chairman) would constitute a new appointment and, hence, not, in the strict legal sense, a
reappointment barred under the Constitution.
5) Any member of the Commission cannot be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting
capacity.
WHEREFORE the petition is PARTLY GRANTED. The appointment of then Commissioner Reynaldo A.
Villar to the position of Chairman of the Commission on Audit to replace Guillermo N. Carague, whose
term of office as such chairman has expired, is hereby declared UNCONSTITUTIONAL for violation of
Sec. 1(2), Art. IX(D) of the Constitution.